In Senate custody, Bato Dela Rosa makes primetime news rounds

On his second day under the protective custody of the Senate — now led by newly elected Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano — Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa made the rounds on three of the country’s top evening newscasts Tuesday.

Appearing live from the Senate, the embattled senator faced separate interviews with 24 Oras anchor Mel Tiangco, TV Patrol anchor Karen Davila, and the team over at Frontline Pilipinas, addressing questions about his sudden return to the upper chamber, the looming ICC arrest warrant against him, and the mounting criticism over his decision to seek refuge in the Senate.

Tiangco asked Dela Rosa directly about his unexpected reappearance at the Senate on Monday, following a six-month absence.

“Senator, sabihin niyo naman samin, bakit nga ba, bakit nga ba hindi ho kayo pumasok ng anim na buwan, at bigla na lang kayong sumulpot kahapon sa Senado, Sir?” Tiangco asked.

“Well, ah, unang-una mayroon tayong natanggap na impormasyon galing sa Palasyo, na andiyan na daw yung warrant of arrest ko sa ICC. Kaya, alam mo na, my liberty is under threat kaya I have to do something with that situation,” Dela Rosa replied.

The International Criminal Court on Monday confirmed the authenticity of the warrant, saying in a statement that it is now for the Philippine authorities “to arrest and surrender” Dela Rosa to the tribunal.

Tiangco also asked the senator to respond to criticism that the Senate was effectively serving as his sanctuary from arrest.

“Senator, mayroon pong mga ibang nagsasabing mali ang ginawa ng Senado na kinupkop kayo diyan. Hindi daw po tama. Ano ho ang gagawin niyo kung sakaling sabihin hindi kayo puwede diyan?” she asked.

“Well, they are entitled to their own opinion, kung ano gusto nilang sabihin laban sa Senado. Basta ‘yung Senado lang naman ginagampanan ang papel niya na mag-maintain ng institution as an independent, and to a certain extent, puwedeng proteksyunan ‘yung kanyang miyembro,” Dela Rosa answered.

Pressed on whether he would peacefully cooperate should authorities eventually move to enforce the warrant, Dela Rosa stopped short of giving a definitive answer.

“Pero kung talagang kailangan na, kayo ba ay puwede rin na sumama na, na walang gulo, na walang problema, sasama na kayo, kapag nakitang lehitimo ‘yung warrant of arrest, Senator? Puwede na ‘yun mangyari?” Tiangco asked.

“Mahirap, mahirap, mahirap sagutin yung tanong mo, Mel, baka mamaya in the end sabihin mo sinungaling ako, hindi ko nagawa ‘yung sinabi ko ngayon kaya hintayin na lang natin,” he said.

Over at ABS-CBN, Dela Rosa faced similar questions in his interview with Karen Davila, as the TV Patrol anchor raised criticism circulating against him on social media.

“Ito reaksyon ng ilan sa social media, ang tapang-tapang niyo daw po noon nung kayo ay PNP chief sa ilalim ni dating pangulong Rodrigo Duterte. Tapos ‘yan, heto kayo tumatakbo, umiiwas sa mga pulis, umiiyak sa Senado, takot na takot kayo, ano ang reaksyon niyo po doon?” she asked.

“Ah, hayaan mo na sila. They are entitled to their own opinion. Sige lang kung ‘yan ang tingin nila sakin. Go ahead. Wala po akong… opinyon niyo po ‘yan,” Dela Rosa responded.

Davila followed up by pointing out that some critics were now labeling him a coward, especially in contrast to other senators who had voluntarily surrendered in the past, like Leila De Lima and Antonio Trillanes IV.

“So kumbaga ang tinawag na po sa inyo ay duwag daw po kayo, Senator, diba. ‘Yun po ang lumalabas po ngayon. Ang iba niyo po kasing kasamahan ay kusa silang nagsurrender,” Davila pointed out.

“Kusang nagsurrender. Sinasabi ko naman ‘yan noon na ayaw kong madala sa The Hague. Kung gusto kong madala sa The Hague, hindi na ako nag-file ng TRO sa Supreme Court. ‘Yun lang ‘yun,” Dela Rosa replied.

Later, Dela Rosa also appeared in an interview with reporter Mae Ann Los Baños, which was later turned over to Frontline Pilipinas anchors Julius Babao and Cheryl Cosim.

Asked if he had any regrets about reappearing at the Senate, Dela Rosa said he had none, stressing that it was his decision to return. He added, “Gusto mo malaman anong pinagsisihan ko ngayon? Ang pinagsisihan ko ngayon kung bakit ako masyadong matapat sa sa aking tungkulin from day 1 of my miltary and police service. Bakit ako natrabaho ng husto, yun rin pala. At the end of the day, mamalasin ka lang rin pala sa iyong tapat na pagsisilbi sa bayan.”